Apple and Design Miami are exploring a more hands-on approach to design with Tactile Design Commissions, a collection of objects that invite people to experience materials through touch, movement and sound. The pieces are on display at Hôtel de Maisons in Paris as part of Designers of Tomorrow 2026, encouraging visitors to look beyond appearance alone.
Among the highlights is a chair by Isabel Rower, decorated with around 1,500 handmade ceramic beads that create a soft rattling sound when brushed. Rather than using traditional textile fringe, the design turns a familiar furniture detail into something interactive. Elsewhere, Salem S. Charabi’s lantern pairs a carved limestone base with a frame woven from Egyptian date palm fronds, contrasting the weight of stone with the lighter texture of natural fibres.
Together, the works show how everyday objects can offer more than visual appeal. Through unexpected textures, materials and sounds, the exhibition invites visitors to slow down and consider how furniture and lighting can shape an experience beyond the way they look.
Image Credit: Apple, Design Miami.Paris, designboom, designboom
What's Driving This Trend
- Tactile Interiors
- Furniture and lighting that emphasize touch, sound and movement introduce new pathways for sensory engagement in spaces where visual aesthetics have traditionally dominated.
- Material-driven Experiences
- Unexpected pairings of ceramics, limestone and natural fibers suggest opportunities for products that turn material contrast into a memorable user experience.
- Interactive Craft Objects
- Handmade details embedded with motion and sound create room for collectible design pieces that blur the line between functional object and experiential artwork.
Who This Affects Most
- Furniture Design
- Sensory-led chairs, tables and decorative objects point to premium offerings that differentiate through texture, acoustics and physical interaction.
- Lighting Design
- Lanterns and lamps built around natural materials and sculptural tactility expand lighting beyond illumination into atmosphere, craft and touch-based appeal.
- Experiential Retail
- Showroom and exhibition formats centered on hands-on discovery give brands a stronger foundation for immersive product storytelling and material education.
